Germany: WW2 bombs defused after mass evacuation
Authorities in Cologne have safely defused three large American World War 2 bombs after evacuating over 20,000 people in what officials described as the city’s largest operation since the war. Discovered in a…
Peru: farmer’s lawsuit against polluting German firm
A German court has dismissed a lawsuit by Peruvian farmer Saul Luciano Lliuya against energy giant RWE, rejecting his claim for damages over flood risks in his hometown linked to climate change. Lliuya…
‘Germany is back’ after Merz secures coalition agreement
Germany's conservatives, led by Friedrich Merz, have formed a coalition with the Social Democrats, ending five months of political uncertainty. Merz, 69, promised strong leadership, reforms, and renewed international confidence, declaring, ‘Germany is…
Germany: conscription to be reintroduced?
Germany’s conservative leaders have argued that the country should quickly reintroduce compulsory military service. Friedrich Merz, leader of the new CDU/CSU government, argues that Europe must take greater responsibility for its defence, especially…
Germany: chancellor-elect criticises Trump, struggles to form coalition
Following the 23 February election, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz has criticised Donald Trump, calling for European defence independence. He warned that NATO’s future was uncertain and called for urgent action…
Germany / Ukraine: Scholz criticises Trump’s demand for rare earth resources
Olaf Scholz has criticised Donald Trump’s proposal to make US military aid for Ukraine conditional on access to the country’s rare earth resources, calling it ‘selfish and self-centred’. A Ukrainian source has said…
Germany: huge protest against collaboration with far-right
Tens of thousands of Germans have protested in Berlin against perceived political collaboration with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The demonstrations followed votes in which the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led…
Germany: early election after no-confidence vote
The chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has lost a vote of no confidence in the German parliament, resulting in an early election which will take place on 23 February. Although he expected the loss, Scholz…
Germany: coalition government on brink of collapse
Germany’s ruling coalition faces a crisis after chancellor Olaf Scholz fired finance minister Christian Lindner, citing a breakdown of trust. Scholz, leader of the Social Democrats, said that Lindner, head of the liberal…
Ukraine: sanctions against Iran for supplying missiles to Russia
France, Germany, and the UK have introduced new sanctions on Iran for supplying ballistic missiles to Russia, which US secretary of state Antony Blinken said will be used against Ukraine. The sanctions include…